Window Shopping

Window ShoppingImage by Justin in SD The windows on Main Street have very unique displays, often they very little, or nothing to do with the merchandise inside the store, but instead show an interesting scene, or an advertisement for Disney’s latest movie.

The secret to getting Disneyland photos without people in the scene is simply to stay in the park after they close. Security slowly closes the park from the points furthest from the front gate a little while after midnight, and usually doesn’t force you out until more than 1 hour after the posted closing time.

This is a 6 exposure HDR tone mapped with Photomatix. I used Lightroom, Nik Color Efex 4 and Topaz Denoise to process the image after Photomatix.

Tomorrowland 2011Image by Justin in SD For many, Tomorrowland is the most disappointing of the themed lands within Disneyland. In its early days, Tomorrowland was the home to futuristic attractions. Attractions like Rocket to the Moon (experience a rocket trip to the moon), Space Station X1 (showed a satellite view of America), or Autopia (a demonstration of the to-be-built interstate highway system andthe only 1955 opening day Tomorrowland attraction still in existence). All of these early attractions were relevant, and legitimate futuristic concepts. In recent years, Disney has created themed lands and rides based on their latest movies more than focusing on a past, present, or future time period or idea as they did with the original concept for Tomorrowland.

With the exception of Innoventions (see my last post), I find many of the rides in Tomorrowland old and stale. With today’s incredible new technology I would love to see Disney develop an attraction that provides an interactive experience demonstrating some form of futuristic technology. For example, an extension of the ASIMO attraction at Innoventions might be to provide a personalized interactive experience with a robot. Tomorrowland has always focused heavily on futuristic transportation devices, I would love to see a new, updated transportation device that would demonstrate a realistic, but futuristic mode of transportation on earth.

If you have visited Disneyland, what are your thoughts on the Tomorrowland of 2011? What do you like, and what would you change if you were the CEO of Disney? Currently, the majority of changes are taking place at California Adventure. As should be obvious from this discussion, I am not overly excited about the upcoming Cars land. I think it’s just another marketing driven idea that will create a land that is boring and stale a few years after it opens. However, I do have high hopes for the Buena Vista Street entrance plans. I think the new concept has the potential to convey a feeling of historical significance and culture similar to Disneyland’s main street. In less than a year we should get our first look into these renovated parts of California Adventure and I’m sure everyone will have their own opinions on the success of the projects.

Now back to the photography – this is a 3 exposure HDR processed with Photomatix, Nik Color Efex Pro, and Lightroom. If you’re a google+ user, add me to your circle, my profile is here.

Route 66 NeonImage by Justin in SD Cars Land is my favorite addition to California Adventure since it opened in 2001. Radiator Springs Racers is arguably the best ride in the park, and the neon down Route 66 makes it feel like a scene off the real Route 66, or at least the one in the Cars movies.